Chapter 17: The Cuisine of Zaun

Ekko and Caitlyn waited under the tree for a long time, nearly dozing off.

When they saw Lin Feng coming down, they finally perked up, but they still didn't understand why he had taken so long.

"What did the professor want to talk to you about?" Caitlyn asked.

Lin Feng smiled mysteriously, "A secret!"

Caitlyn was taken aback; for some reason, she felt a bit annoyed, as if thinking, "I told you everything, but you won't tell me anything."

Ekko stared at Lin Feng for a while. Having received affirmation from Professor Heimerdinger, he could no longer be overly aggressive.

However, it was absolutely impossible for him to maintain a friendly relationship with someone who had just grabbed him by the throat, especially since that person was representing the upper class.

"Is there nothing else? If there's nothing, hurry up and leave," Ekko said coldly, urging Lin Feng and Caitlyn to depart quickly.

Even though Ekko and Caitlyn had a bit of rapport, he couldn't let the two of them stay here overnight. Every move of an Enforcer was watched by the lower class, and lingering around an Enforcer would only make them appear to be traitors.

Caitlyn nodded and left this haven in Zaun with Lin Feng.

Lin Feng was in a good mood; with Heimerdinger's help, he could just pick up his goods in two days.

The Z-type drive resonance that could reverse time was quite exciting to think about.

The next step was to find Jinx.

After quickly eating some portable rations, Lin Feng couldn't help but feel that it wasn't easy for an upper-class Enforcer to do business in the lower class; even eating and lodging weren't guaranteed.

In the past, he could go back and forth in one day, even if it was just for a day shift, but now the security between Piltover and Zaun had become stricter. People coming down had to achieve significant results or complete tasks; otherwise, they couldn't freely enter or leave either side.

Unable to endure the taste of compressed biscuits any longer, Lin Feng decided to get something good to eat.

The method was simple: Lin Feng asked Caitlyn for some money.

Caitlyn naturally had a special budget for business trips, as well as her own salary.

According to normal regulations, Caitlyn was under no obligation to give Lin Feng any money, and in terms of their private relationship, she had even less reason to lend him money.

But Lin Feng didn't ask for it for free.

He took out the mechanical glove he had previously, and while Caitlyn was still nibbling on her compressed biscuits, he quietly infused it with some magical energy.

At this point, the mechanical glove hadn't fully transformed into a hextech glove; it was at best a semi-finished product.

The power within the hex gems resembled modern nuclear energy; unlike batteries that run out, hextech energy is continuous.

But Lin Feng, who had studied physical chemistry in depth, knew that this energy was not infinite; even nuclear power plants have a day when they will cease to function.

With a portion of magical energy infused, the glove, while not matching the true hextech glove in terms of power or durability, could still grant abilities that exceeded normal limits when worn, with convenience being its main advantage.

A semi-finished hextech glove was priced at 500 copper coins, a fair deal.

Lin Feng didn't think that was too high a price; although he had never sold one before, hextech was in high demand in the lower class, and 500 copper coins was practically a steal.

Lin Feng considered it a favor, yet even so, Caitlyn hesitated.

"Big sister, are you going to trade or not? If you're not, I'll take it to trade with someone else."

His stomach grumbling, Lin Feng didn't want to wait any longer.

Caitlyn struggled for a long time, and upon hearing Lin Feng's words, she finally couldn't hold back anymore, "Wait... I'll trade!"

500 copper coins for a hextech glove? If others found out, they'd probably drop their jaws in disbelief.

At first, Caitlyn couldn't believe that this scientist, who regarded technology as a treasure, would so simply and cheaply sell his invention.

But she had seen Lin Feng use a hextech glove with her own eyes.

It was only when she held the blue-glowing glove in her hands that Caitlyn genuinely felt happy.

Carefully storing the glove away, she prepared to surprise Vi when she returned.

After the trade, the tension and oppressive atmosphere that had gripped Lin Feng since arriving in Zaun eased a bit.

Caitlyn's frugal demeanor made Lin Feng feel she seemed more real.

After all, Caitlyn looked to be only about twenty years old; always wearing the cool demeanor of an Enforcer and an age-inappropriate maturity made Lin Feng feel a bit uncomfortable.

Lin Feng headed straight to a food stall he had passed earlier, eager to try the Zaun cuisine he had smelled earlier.

It was a roadside stall run by a creature he had only heard of but never seen before: a **Sharkman**.

A large, plump Sharkman, looking oddly frightening, like a butcher but with blue skin and all the characteristics of a Sharkman.

This stall sold all kinds of meat, with walls adorned with unfamiliar cuts of meat. On the counter lay a horrifying-looking fish, resembling a deep-sea creature, being sliced by the owner. On a metal grill over charcoal, there were skewers of meat sizzling and dripping with fat, making a delightful sound.

Lin Feng was quite willing to eat barbecue, but he couldn't communicate with the owner, which took away some of the enjoyment he was expecting.

The owner seemed to have trouble speaking, uttering only some Sharkman phrases that Lin Feng couldn't quite understand.

Fortunately, the process of buying was relatively smooth. Without Caitlyn, who was wearing her police uniform, Lin Feng felt just like a true Zaunite—as if the "strange" green cloak he wore helped a lot.

For 50 copper coins, Lin Feng bought a big bowl of roasted meat, the kind he couldn't identify.

The meat was blue, the sauce was yellow, and with that blue-yellow combination, Lin Feng initially thought it was a product from the islands.

Although it didn't look appealing, judging by the aroma, it was indeed very enticing, as the sign of the stall claimed.

Carrying the roasted meat, Lin Feng blissfully returned to the alley where he and Caitlyn were, sitting down on a bench and taking a small experimental bite.

Suddenly, Lin Feng's eyes widened in surprise.

The green roasted meat had a satisfying texture upon entry—neither dry nor greasy, perfectly cooked, with a taste between beef and pork, and full of meat flavor!

In the middle of the bite, the aroma of the roasted meat completely burst forth, mingled with a hint of smoky sweetness from the charcoal, directly stimulating the taste buds.

The yellow sauce had a sour and spicy taste, making it extremely appetizing.

The moderate sourness balanced the greasiness of the roasted meat, giving the sensation that one could eat it endlessly without growing tired.

The spiciness complemented the sourness, adding more color to the dish, making the flavor of the roasted meat richer and more layered!

Lin Feng went from small tentative bites to wolfing it down.

Since arriving here two days ago, Lin Feng hadn't eaten a proper meal.

Even when he later changed rooms, the food wasn't as authentic as this.

As Lin Feng gorged himself, he left Caitlyn, who was elegantly eating her compressed biscuits, utterly dumbfounded.